First off, thanks to all of you who provided suggestions in last week’s Class of 1986 update post. We didn’t leave out your favorites on purpose – after all, we have the entire second half of the year to continue to examine the noteworthy cars and trucks from 1986.

One theme we keep coming back to in our selections for the Class of 1986 is the emergence and widespread adoption of high technology and the rapid obsoleting of older technology that has served automobiles back to the beginning of the automobile age. Typically, the high technology was to be found in imported vehicles that year, while stone-age technology soldiered on in domestics. However, there were exceptions to that rule, and one of those exceptions was the 1986 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC, a domestic vehicle that blended both old and new.

Introduced in 1984 as the Continental Mark VII (and later referred to simply as the Mark VII), it boasted aerodynamic composite headlamps, a first for an American car, along with a coefficient of drag of 0.38 – the same as a Citroën CX, ostensibly named as such because of its slippery aerodynamic design. A full foot shorter overall and 400 pounds lighter than the Mark VI, the Mark VII now rode on the famed unibody Fox platform, though the Mark VII boasted of a number of chassis advancements, including four-wheel disc brakes, anti-lock brakes (introduced on the LSC in 1985 and across the Mark VII lineup in 1986), and a unique electronic air suspension. From the beginning, Lincoln positioned the LSC as the performance variant of the Mark VII, with a 45 percent stiffer suspension, larger front and rear anti-roll bars, quicker steering, special cast-aluminum wheels, and (for 1986) an analog instrument panel. The LSC was also the only Mark VII to receive the 200hp 5.0L H.O. V-8, the same sequential multi-port electronically fuel-injected Windsor-based engine that made its way into the Mustang GT and Mercury Capri that year. All LSCs came with the Ford AOD four-speed automatic transmission. While the Mark VII didn’t much change for the 1986 model year – it dropped the Versace Designer series trim level as well as the BMW-sourced 2.4-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder option – it did make Car and Driver’s 10 best list that year. All that, and the Mark VII just barely edged out the Continental in terms of production totals in 1967 – 20,056 versus 19,012. No breakdown exists for the Mark VII LSC.

So what say you about the Mark VII LSC? Does it deserve the “collectible” label, 25-year cutoff or not? Would you house one in your garage dedicated to 1986 vehicles? Or is it not significant enough to warrant attention?

It gets my vote as well. The VII was one of the more important cars in the ’80s. In terms of styling alone, it brought aero-goodness to the public (along with the Thunderbird) before the Taurus. I was at the New York Auto Show the year the VII came out and it was the coolest car at the show.

“A full foot shorter overall and 400 pounds lighter than the Mark VI” …does that comparison refer to the Mark VI sedan or to the coupe? The sedan and coupe had different wheelbases and lengths, and presumably different weights as well.

Yep, I liked them too! This was when Ford and other manufacturers started to ponder …”Hey! Those BMW”s and Mercedes’ and such are luxury cars, that kick ass!.. Hmmnn,.. Maybe there is something too that.. Ya think?” This is also the beginings of High Performance Cadillacs, and super charged Bonnievilles. American cars started getting back on track.

I never realized just how advanced that Mark was. I know there were some guys who really loved these Lincolns, and racked up 200-300k on them. I remember that second commercial, a very sharp stab at GM! Though now the Lincolns look very, very dated. (well, mostly the Town Car)

Having a Mark VIII now, I have always wanted a Mark VII too. Both cars, for their time were just “wow”. Too bad Lincoln hasn’t kept that up. While neither the 7 or 8 are not widely sought after at this point, I think both will be collectible in the general sense one day.

I own my second Mark 7 LSC,and a Mark 8!My 90 Mark 7 unusually has a Cobra 302 in it,now weather it was stock,or some one along the years had it transplanted,that’s what is in it!I did a lot of research,and it is absolutely a Cobra 302,and has a lot of power!My 93 Mark 8 has the 4.6L Cobra,and it by far takes the Mark 7!The power the Mark 8 has is awesome,0-60 in less than 7 seconds,and spins the rear wheels and gets sideways when it shifts to second gear,totally a blast to drive!And for those of us that still like to burn out,she is good for over 150 feet,then you have to let out of it,or lose control,as she gets all over the place!All I can say,is if you don’t have one,get one,they are collector cars,and will be worth a good bit in the future!

I just bought a 67000km 1988 Mark VII LSC for 4 grand and its great.It runs and looks like a new car.I like the fact that its a rare car now and it seem’s like I’m the only one on the road with one.I LOVE IT!!!!!!

I forgot to mention its the exact car (color) and in as new condition as in the 89 LCS car in the commercial shown at the top.They could remake the commercial, use my car and it would be exactly the same.

I have quite the soft spot for this car. My dad owned one, a 1986 LSC , burgundy with dark gray leather interior. He bought it when I was 14 and the deal was I wash and wax it regularly to enure I get to drive it when I get my liscence. I’d did! I learned to drive on this car and drove it through high school. It was fast and the best…….and I got many tickets to prove it.

my transmission gear shift cable has broke 4 times in 1 year, now the car will not go over 40 mph, it will go to neutral , when I slow down it will pick back up but only to 40. what could be the problem?